Whenever I travel, I get this rush of excitement. Whether it be from the exciting new cities I get to discover, or the delicious exotic foods, I always find something to discover.
The Cliffs of Moher was my favorite place to visit in Ireland.
We had gone during March, so it was during the time where tourists weren’t really visiting quite yet due to the fact that it was very frigid there. It had no comparison, however, to the blizzard that was going on in Connecticut during that time.
Despite the breezy Irish weather, we managed to visit several places in Ireland, but the one I want to focus on was the Cliffs of Moher. These majestic cliffs are well known in Ireland for not only the many legends surrounding it but the nature of the cliffs as well. Not only are they formed in a way that is unfamiliar in relation to other rock formations, but the birds that nest in the grass are endangered animals, such as the Atlantic Puffins and Choughs.
But for my personal experience of viewing the cliff, was something I won’t forget.
When we first got to our Air BnB, our hosts informed us of that sometimes it gets so windy up at the cliffs that they actually will close the famous tourist attraction. I found that interesting and did not think of why they would close it for wind; I would find out soon why that was the case.
The day that we chose to visit it, was perfect. It was slightly windy and very sunny out so without further delay, we got in our rental car and drove to the location. We got our parking space and the minute I opened my car door, it was slammed shut by the wind.
I was shocked as I pushed it open and managed to get out but was knocked back slightly by the raging wind. It was incredibly strong, as I walked up the hill from the visitor center to get a closer look at the beautiful landmark.
The closer I got to the wall separating people from the very edge of the cliff, I suddenly felt a spray of water hit my body.
I squinted my eyes as the salt water hit my face, to see a truly amazing sight.
The wind was so strong that day, that the ocean water was coming up in spurts. Thankfully it was in one spot that had soaked the ground and we quickly went to another spot to view the cliff. There are different areas that you can walk on, depending on the weather and distance. On one of the corners, closest to the visiting center, is a small tower. We unfortunately weren’t allowed to go inside, but it was still a site to view as we went up the stairs that lead up to it.
This moment was another time that I experienced the winds of Ireland. I again kept getting pushed back, at one point even pushed down a step which I didn’t think would be possible.
Another area we visited, was where it would lead to the very edge of the cliff, or further back on a path. It had rained the previous day, so the mud was slippery and we decided to go on the path that was further away from the edge.
It was beautiful, as we looked down and saw the birds flying around their homes, the ocean water crashing into the giant rock structures.
There were ruins too, on a smaller cliff that sprouted out from the main ones. We walked a little further before turning back to go to the visitor center.
Despite the strong winds and frigid air, when I return to Ireland again, I would love to see the beauty, that is, The Cliffs of Moher.
